Friends of Ostrander, who counts scripting the Star Wars comics Republic and Legacy among his accomplishments, are holding a charity auction at the Chicago Comic-Con to help with costs for some hefty eye surguries, as well as a site for direct donations.
Binary Bonsai finds a rare Lucas interview
Michael Heilemann has unearthed an hour-long 1971 interview with George Lucas.
More on George in Chicago
The Chicago Tribune finally has something on George, while NECN.com has video of George accepting the Siskel Award.
An Adventure With George Lucas in Chicago
The Forcecast’s Jimmy Mac was on hand for last night’s Gene Siskel Film Center event honoring The Maker in Chicago. He returns with photos and an interview with Lucas.
There doesn’t seem to be much from the press on the event yet, but Francis Ford Coppola has good words about George at MTV, and Red Tails actor Tristan Wilds talks him up over at IGN.
Christopher Lee knighted!
The genre acting legend, who played Count Dooku in two of the prequels, has received one very big honor: He’s among those knighted Saturday by Queen Elizabeth II.
Lee is not the first Star Wars player to be knighted, of course: Sir Alec Guinness had already held the title for almost two decades when he played Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1977.
Star Wars in the news: Favreau, TOR, hockey, sciene, and the other George Lucas
Iron Man director Jon Favreau will be presenting George Lucas with the Gene Siskel Film Center Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking this weekend… In addition to being handpicked by George for an interview. So the Chicago Tribune caught up with the younger filmmaker. (via)
- Elephant in the room: MTV asks The Old Republic team about sex in the GFFA – or rather, in their game.
- Sports. As a Metro Detroiter, I am so sick of the Stanley Cup brouhaha I can’t muster up anything clever for A Star Wars guide to the Stanley Cup Finals. Just please let it end tonight. (Yes, this technically should have gone in the fandom post. Sorry. The Stanley Cup, at least, is news. Trust me on that one.)
- Important questions: How far away is Star Wars gadgetry? Well, we have the Death Star… (Okay, okay, it’s just an article on the science exhibit.)
- No, the other one. If you’ve ever have the pleasure of Google Newsing ‘George Lucas’ on a regular basis, as I have not being doing all-too-infrequently lately, eventually you’ll run into the one who doesn’t run a media juggernaught. That other George Lucas has now been appointed the next Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska. (via)
Ray Park officially on board for Heroes
After breaking the news that the Darth Maul actor was in negotiations last week, Michael Ausiello confirms that Park is a done deal for a “sizeable arc” on next season’s Heroes.
Ray Park heading to Heroes?
Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello is reporting that Ray Park – you’ll remember him as Darth Maul – is in talks to join NBC’s Heroes for a “sizeable arc” next series.
Lucas, Ford back on the Forbes Celebrity 100
George Lucas is on the Forbes Celebrity 100 again, this year clocking in at #24 – a hefty jump up from his 2008 spot of #46. The list’s only other Star Wars figure is, naturally, Harrison Ford, at #17.
Other geeks and geek icons making the rank include Steven Spielberg (#7,) Will Smith (#11,) Stephenie Meyer (#26,) Stephen King (#68,) Daniel Radcliffe (#70) and Tina Fey (#86.)
In less listy news, George will be honored by The Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago next weekend.
David Eddings has passed away
The author of the bestselling Belgariad and Malloreon fantasy series has died last night at the age of 77. As one of the giants of epic 80’s fantasy, Eddings has been an inspiration and influence to many.